San Jose State University

November 24, 2015November 24, 2015

Wes Schweitzer

Chemistry

“This may sound cheesy, but being on the team made me into a man.”

Before scholarships to play college football started to pour in, Spartan offensive tackle Schweitzer had intended to join the U.S. Marine Corps. Just to be clear: being a student-athlete isn’t an easy gig, either, he says. “People who aren’t in sports and in college at the same time don’t understand the commitment that it takes to be the best in both.” Schweitzer’s interest in science was inspired by his grandfather, a U.S. Army nuclear engineer for 25 years. At SJSU Schweitzer interned in Professor Annalise Van Wyngarden’s lab, studying the effect of acidic atmospheric particles on climate change. The future? If not the NFL, a Ph.D. Third option? His original career plan. “I’ll join the Marines,” he says.